Pivoting Wheel Chock Arm with Collet Clamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel restraints at loading docks, such as wheel chocks, often slip on slippery surfaces and are easily misplaced due to their loose nature, failing to effectively restrain vehicles without ICC bars, especially in environments outside the United States where ICC bars are not prevalent.
Innovation Solution
A wheel restraint system featuring a pivotally attached arm with a wheel chock that includes a friction-reducing roller and a counterbalance mechanism, allowing the chock to be easily positioned and securely locked in front of a vehicle wheel, using a collet clamp for stability and a winch for powered operation, with the ability to store the chock elevated when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wheel chock is used as a loose item for vehicle restraint, then it can be easily deployed and retrieved, but it slips on slippery surfaces and gets misplaced
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel chock is merged with a restraining arm assembly that is permanently attached to the loading dock. The arm pivots to position the chock and includes a locking mechanism (collet clamp) to secure it in place, combining the mobility needed for deployment with the stability needed to prevent slipping and misplacement
Solution Approach 2:
The restraining arm is designed to be dynamic during deployment (pivoting motion to position the chock) but becomes static and locked when restraining the vehicle. The collet clamp mechanism allows the arm to transition between movable and fixed states, providing ease of operation during deployment while ensuring reliability during vehicle restraint
2Reliability
If an ICC-style restraint is used to engage the truck's ICC bar, then it can effectively restrain the vehicle, but it cannot be used on trucks without an ICC bar or outside regions where ICC bars are not prevalent
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel chock-based restraint system serves as a universal solution that can restrain vehicles regardless of whether they have an ICC bar. By targeting the wheel rather than the ICC bar, the system becomes adaptable to different truck types and regions, while still providing effective vehicle restraint through the locked arm mechanism
3Ease of manufacture
If a wheel chock is used on slippery surfaces, then it can block the wheel, but it slips out of position due to oil, rain, ice, sand, gravel, or dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel chock is combined with a rigid restraining arm and locking mechanism, transforming it from a simple loose block to a secured positioning system. The collet clamp locks the arm in place, preventing the chock from slipping on slippery or uneven surfaces while maintaining the basic wheel-blocking function
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides reliable and secure vehicle restraint by maintaining the chock's position on uneven surfaces and preventing forward movement, while ensuring easy deployment and retrieval, enhancing safety during loading and unloading operations.
Implementation Method 1
a friction-reducing roller
Implementation Method 2
a counterbalance mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
Wheel restraints for restraining vehicles at loading docks are described herein. An example wheel restraint includes a restraining arm to anchor a wheel chock to a fixed point at the dock. When in a blocking position, the chock rests directly upon the dock's driveway without the chock having to engage additional hardware that could be an obstruction to snow removal. In some examples, the wheel chock automatically swings between its blocking and release positions in response to the arm simply lowering or raising the chock.